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Why learning languages in 2024 is just not worth it

Video vocabulary

the

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US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • article
  • Used to refer to something already mentioned
  • Used to show there is only one of something
  • determiner
  • Used to describe all of a family

mention

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US / 'menʃn /

UK / ˈmɛnʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Act of referring to or talking about something
  • verb
  • To refer to or talk or write about something

realistic

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US / ˌri:əˈlɪstɪk /

UK / ˌriəˈlɪstɪk /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Looks or appears real; like things really are

cafe

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US / 'kæfeɪ /

UK / kæ'feɪ /

A1
  • noun
  • Small restaurant selling drinks and snacks

badly

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US / ˈbædli /

UK / ˈbædli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Not in a good way; not as wanted or liked
  • To a severe degree; very much
  • In an unkind or unfavorable manner

youtube

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US / 'ju:tju:b /

UK / 'ju:tu:b /

A1
  • transitive verb
  • Upload a video of (someone or something) to the video-sharing website YouTube.

follower

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US / ˈfɒləʊə(r) /

UK / ˈfɑloɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Person who accepts the leadership of another
  • Person believing a set of values or moral teacher

than

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US / ðən /

UK / ðən /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to compare two things that are not equal

one

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US / wʌn /

UK / wʌn /

A1
  • pronoun
  • You; we; people in general; someone
  • The thing or person previously referred to
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to people generally
  • Being a strong example of (something mentioned)
  • number
  • Number 1

other

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US / 'ʌðə(r) /

UK / ˈʌðər /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • A thing different from that mentioned
  • determiner
  • (Something) else; not the first (one)
  • pronoun
  • Being the one and only thing of that category

message

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US / 'mesɪdʒ /

UK / ˈmɛsɪdʒ /

A2
  • noun
  • Main idea or theme in a story, book, or film
  • Piece of information that is told/given to someone
  • verb
  • To communicate using text

iphone

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US / 'aɪfon /

UK / 'aɪfon /

A1
  • noun
  • Smartphone manufactured by Apple Computers

into

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US / 'ɪntə /

UK / ˈɪntu /

A1
  • preposition
  • Moving or going inside something
  • In the same direction as; in the direction of
  • So as to become; taking the state of

paris

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US / 'pærɪs /

UK / ˈpærɪs /

A1
  • other
  • Sometimes placed in subfamily Trilliaceae

opposite

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US / ˈɔpəzit /

UK / ˈɑpəzɪt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being totally different from
  • noun
  • Person, thing that is totally different to another
  • preposition
  • Across from or on the side facing something

this

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US / ðɪs /

UK / ðɪs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Used to indicate something already been discussed
  • Used to indicate something happening around now
  • adverb
  • An indication by a physical motion or gesture
  • A specific amount of
  • determiner
  • Person, thing, or idea near you
  • pronoun
  • Person, thing that has already been discussed

lip

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US / lɪp /

UK / lɪp /

A2
  • noun
  • Edge of a hole or container
  • Top and bottom part of the outside of your mouth

expose

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US / ɪk'spəʊz /

UK / ɪkˈspoʊz /

A2
  • noun
  • News article revealing secret information
  • verb
  • To make visible, without covering or protection
  • To allow light through a cameras lens onto film
  • To be talked about in the media
  • To make a secret known to the public
  • To experience something, often a harmful thing

awake

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US / əˈweɪk /

UK / əˈwek /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Not asleep; up; alert
  • verb
  • To make aware of (a certain feeling or memory)
  • To wake from sleep; wake someone from sleep

three

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US / θri: /

UK / θri /

A1
  • number
  • Number 3

able

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US / 'eɪbl /

UK / ˈebəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Skilled; good at something
  • Having the ability to do something

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person someone is speaking or writing to
  • Person or people in general

year

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US / jə: /

UK / jɪr /

A1
  • noun
  • Unit of time equal to 12 months or 365 or 366 days
  • Used to refer to the age of a person

therefore

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US / ˈðeəfɔ:(r) /

UK / ˈðerfɔ:(r) /

A1
  • adverb
  • And so; for that reason

how

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US / haʊ /

UK / haʊ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To what degree? in what amount?
  • adverb
  • (Used to explain the way to do something)
  • exclamation
  • For what purpose or reason?
  • (Used to ask someone or something's condition)

kind

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US / kaɪnd /

UK / kaɪnd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • In a caring and helpful manner
  • friendly and considerate
  • noun
  • One type of thing

five

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US / faɪv /

UK / faɪv /

A1
  • number
  • 5

also

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US / 'ɔ:lsəʊ /

UK / ˈɔlso /

A1
  • adverb
  • In addition; too; in a similar way

think

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US / θɪŋk /

UK / θɪŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To have an idea about something without certainty
  • To have an idea, opinion or belief about something

pretend

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US / prɪ'tend /

UK / prɪˈtɛnd /

A2
  • verb
  • To act as if something is true when it is not

local

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US / ˈləʊkl /

UK / ˈloʊkl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Relating to a particular area, city, or town
  • noun
  • Bus or train, that stops at most stations
  • People who live in the area being discussed
  • The pub you most frequently go to

help

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US / help /

UK / hɛlp /

A1
  • noun
  • Something given to enable a person to do something
  • Assistance given to someone in need
  • Someone who makes something easier or possible
  • verb
  • To act to enable a person to do something; assist
  • To make something better or less difficult

effort

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US / ˈefət /

UK / ˈɛfət /

A2
  • noun
  • Amount of work used trying to do something

any

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US / 'enɪ /

UK / ˈɛni /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • One, or some, no matter which
  • pronoun
  • One (thing) of many; some

over

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US / 'əʊvə(r) /

UK / ˈovɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Finished; no longer happening
  • Towards the ground/away from a standing position
  • noun
  • A set of six consecutive balls bowled in cricket
  • other
  • Finished
  • preposition
  • Showing the relation when a thing is above another
  • On or covering something
  • Above or across something
  • More than you need
  • From one side to the other
  • In the direction of; toward

out

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US / aʊt /

UK / aʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • No longer stylish (e.g. fashion)
  • Away from home, business, or the usual place
  • In a direction/movement away from inside or center
  • noun
  • Act when a batter cannot continue playing
  • verb
  • To tell people a secret

flashcard

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US / ˈflæʃkɑ:d /

UK / ˈflæʃˌkɛrd /

B1
  • noun
  • Card for memorizing words

two

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US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • number
  • 2

pickup

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US / ˈpɪkʌp /

UK / ˈpɪkˌʌp /

B2
  • noun
  • Small truck that has an open back with low sides

front

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US / frʌnt /

UK / frʌnt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Opposite of back; the forward part of an object
  • noun
  • Behavior not showing a person's true feelings
  • Area where fighting in a war is happening
  • Place where air of different temperatures meets
  • verb
  • To have the forward part facing something
  • To lead a group of people, usually a band

stack

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US / stæk /

UK / stæk /

B1
  • noun
  • A large number or amount of something
  • Large tube through which smoke exits a building
  • verb
  • To arrange cards in a certain order, to cheat
  • To put one thing on top of another, e.g. boxes

early

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US / ˈɜ:li /

UK / ˈɜ:rli /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Happening or appearing before
  • adverb
  • Coming/happening before others in a time sequence
  • Happening sooner than expected

where

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US / hwɛə /

UK / hwɛr, wɛr /

A1
  • conjunction
  • At or in the place which
  • In whatever place
  • pronoun
  • Word you use to ask the location of something

leave

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US / li:v /

UK / liv /

A1
  • noun
  • Permission to do something
  • Vacation time; time off work
  • verb
  • To go away from; depart
  • To gift property to someone after you die
  • To allow something to continue happening
  • To let something remain unused or available
  • To let something or someone remain somewhere

call

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US / kɔ:l /

UK / kɔl /

A1
  • noun
  • A order or request for action
  • The sound an animal makes, often when in danger
  • A correct prediction, e.g. a decision in a game
  • A short visit to a place or person
  • A decision by a referee or umpire in a game
  • verb
  • To make a request or order for action
  • (Animal) to make sounds to warn of danger
  • To announce the date of an election
  • To make a judgment about something
  • To give someone or something a name
  • To guess in advance the result or outcome
  • To visit a place or person for a short time
  • To phone someone
  • To speak, announce or shout in a loud voice

real

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US / rɪəl /

UK / ˈriəl, ril /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Actually existing or happening, not imagined
  • Being important or special

girl

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US / gɜ:l /

UK / gɜ:rl /

A1
  • noun
  • A female child; a young woman

another

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US / əˈnʌðə(r) /

UK / əˈnʌðɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • One more, but not this
  • determiner
  • One more added
  • pronoun
  • One more (thing)

something

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US / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

UK / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

A1
  • adverb
  • In some degree or measure
  • noun
  • a person or thing of some value or consequence
  • pronoun
  • Thing that is not yet known or named
  • Approximately

keep

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US / ki:p /

UK / kip /

A1
  • noun
  • Large, strong tower in the middle of a castle
  • Money spent on you so you can live in a place
  • verb
  • To continue doing something; not to stop
  • To stop balls going in a goal in sports
  • To not give back or return something
  • (Of food) to not spoil or not rot
  • To take possession of something to own, e.g. a pet
  • To have and continue to hold something
  • To do something that you have promised or agreed
  • To stay in a certain place or condition
  • To maintain the rules

confess

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US / kən'fes /

UK / kənˈfɛs /

B1
  • verb
  • To admit that you did something wrong

pain

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US / peɪn /

UK / pen /

A1
  • noun
  • Strong feeling of hurt or discomfort
  • Something or someone that bothers or upsets you
  • verb
  • To cause someone to feel upset or worry

steve

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US / ˈstɜ:nəm /

UK / ˈstɜ:rnəm /

A1

lot

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US / lɒt /

UK / lɑt /

A1
  • noun
  • What happens to a person in life from chance; fate
  • A group of people seen together
  • Item for sale at an auction
  • Small area of land used for a purpose e.g. parking

istanbul

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US / ˌistænˈbu:l /

UK / ˌɪstænˈbul, -tɑn-, ɪˈstɑnbʊl /

A1
  • proper noun
  • A port in Turkey on the Bosporus that straddles Europe and Asia; population 10,757,300 (est. 2007).

guy

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US / ɡaɪ /

UK / ɡaɪ /

A1
  • noun
  • Man; boy; any person

certainly

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US / ˈsə:tnli /

UK / ˈsɚtnli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Sure; of course

and

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US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

who

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US / hu: /

UK / hu /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Which person
  • Used to introduce information about people

chance

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US / tʃɑ:ns /

UK / tʃæns /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Happening by luck; not planned
  • Taking a risk to try something
  • noun
  • The way something happens without planning
  • An opportunity; favorable circumstances, situation
  • The possibility that something will happen
  • verb
  • To occur just through luck; happen
  • To take a risk to try something

all

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US / ɔ:l /

UK / ɔl /

A1
  • adverb
  • Completely; totally
  • determiner
  • Being every one of something
  • pronoun
  • 100% of something; the complete amount

april

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US / ˈeɪprəl /

UK / ˈeɪprəl /

A1
  • noun
  • 4th month of the year
  • Person's name

very

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US / 'verɪ /

UK / ˈvɛri /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning a large degree or amount
  • adverb
  • A lot; much; many
  • Used to stress or emphasize a noun

they

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US / ðeɪ /

UK / ðe /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Two or more people, animals, or things

painful

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US / ˈpeɪnfl /

UK / ˈpenfəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Causing or feeling physical pain or hurt

gradually

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US / ˈgrædʒuəli /

UK / ˈɡrædʒʊəlɪ /

B1
  • adverb
  • Occurring in a slow manner over a period of time

succeed

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US / sək'si:d /

UK / səkˈsid /

A2
  • verb
  • To have achieved what you were trying to achieve
  • To take over position of one who has died or left
  • To come after or replace in a series

travel

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US / ˈtrævl /

UK / ˈtrævəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Going to other places, esp. distant places
  • verb
  • To go to a place that is far away

philosopher

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US / fəˈlɒsəfə(r) /

UK / fɪˈlɑsəfɚ /

C1
  • noun
  • Person studying the meaning of truth and life

personally

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US / ˈpɜ:sənəli /

UK / ˈpəsənəli /

A2
  • adverb
  • By a specific person, and not by anyone else
  • Knowing someone as a friend, or closely

drill

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US / drɪl /

UK / drɪl /

B1
  • noun
  • A machine that makes holes with a metal bit
  • Exercise done to learn military skills
  • Disciplined practice, as of soldiers marching
  • verb
  • To make a deep hole to find oil, gas etc.
  • To put a hole in something by using a boring tool
  • To train in something through repetition

beside

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US / bɪˈsaɪd /

UK / bɪˈsaɪd /

A2
  • preposition
  • In comparison to; compared with
  • By the side of something; next to something

expression

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US / ɪk'spreʃn /

UK / ɪkˈsprɛʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Act of making your thoughts and feelings known
  • Group of words that have a specific meaning

work

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US / wɜ:k /

UK / wɚk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Activity completed in order to make money
  • noun
  • The product of some artistic or literary endeavor
  • Everything created by an author, artist, musician
  • Activity you do in order to make money
  • Place of employment
  • Final product or result of a some labor or effort
  • verb
  • To bring into a specific state of success
  • To be functioning properly, e.g. a car
  • To do your job in your company or workplace
  • To make an effort to do something
  • To operate a machine or device

gain

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US / ɡeɪn /

UK / ɡen /

A2
  • noun
  • An increase in something, such as weight
  • verb
  • To increase in something, such as weight
  • To get something wanted, needed or valued

pay

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US / peɪ /

UK / pe /

A1
  • noun
  • Money you receive from your job, work, etc.
  • verb
  • To give money for goods or work done
  • To give (attention, respect, etc.) to
  • To be punished or suffer for something you did
  • To make (a visit) to a person or place

look

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US / lʊk /

UK / lʊk /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's beauty or physical attractiveness
  • Particular style of dress, clothes, or appearance
  • The way someone, something appears to be
  • Act of searching for or examining something
  • verb
  • To appear to be; seem

joy

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US / dʒɔɪ /

UK / dʒɔɪ /

A2
  • noun
  • Deep happiness and pleasure about something
  • Thing or person that causes pleasure or happiness
  • verb
  • To experience happiness or to be glad

encourage

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US / ɪn'kʌrɪdʒ /

UK / ɛnˈkɚrɪdʒ, -ˈkʌr- /

A2
  • verb
  • To increase the chance of something happening
  • To make someone more determined or confident

country

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US / ˈkʌntri /

UK / ˈkʌntri /

A1
  • noun
  • An area of land that is controlled by a government
  • Open land that is away from towns and cities

way

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US / weɪ /

UK / we /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to emphasize the amount of something
  • noun
  • Particular aspect of something being thought about
  • One of various choices that could be made
  • Particular existing condition or state
  • (Often long) distance or length of time
  • How something is done
  • Route to go to a place
  • Small street
  • Usual behavior, emotions or habits of someone

quiz

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US / kwɪz /

UK / kwɪz /

B1
  • noun
  • A game in which players answer questions on topics
  • Brief spoken or written test, given to students
  • verb
  • To ask a person many questions about something

move

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US / mu:v /

UK / muv /

A1
  • noun
  • Act of moving a playing piece in chess, etc.
  • An action; doing something
  • Step taken to achieve a goal
  • verb
  • To cause someone to have certain emotions
  • To cause something to change to a different place
  • To change where people live or a business operates
  • To take action to do or achieve something

figure

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US / ˈfiɡə /

UK / ˈfɪɡjɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Your body shape
  • Numbers in a calculation
  • Doll-like thing meant to represent a person
  • Picture or diagram giving information in a text
  • Person who is very important or famous
  • Shape of a person seen indistinctly or in outline
  • Amount that is expressed in numbers
  • verb
  • To appear in a game, play or event
  • To calculate how much something will cost
  • To understand after thinking; work out

design

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US / dɪˈzaɪn /

UK / dɪˈzaɪn /

A1
  • noun
  • The way something is planned, to fulfill a purpose
  • verb
  • To plan in a particular way to fulfill a purpose
  • To think of a plan

ago

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US / əˈgəʊ /

UK / əˈgoʊ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a specified length of time in the past

subject

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US / 'sʌbdʒɪkt /

UK / ˈsʌbdʒekt /

A1
  • noun
  • Citizen of an area or country
  • The person or thing that does the action of a verb
  • People who take part in experiments or tests
  • An area of study at school, e.g. math, history
  • What a book, article etc. is about; theme
  • verb
  • To cause to suffer or experience something

doubt

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US / daʊt /

UK / daʊt /

A1
  • noun
  • Not being sure of something; lack of certainty
  • verb
  • To question the truth or certainty of something

worth

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US / wɜ:θ /

UK / wɚθ /

A2
  • other
  • the financial, practical or moral value of somebody/something
  • having a particular value, especially in money

why

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US / waɪ /

UK / hwaɪ, waɪ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Question word to ask for a reason
  • exclamation
  • (Used to express surprise or approval)

attractive

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US / əˈtræktɪv /

UK / əˈtræktɪv /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Making you like them, as by being good-looking

stuff

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US / stʌf /

UK / stʌf /

A1
  • noun
  • Generic description for things, materials, objects
  • verb
  • To push material inside something, with force

trot

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US / trɒt /

UK / trɑt /

B2
  • verb
  • (Of a horse) to move rapidly taking small steps

talk

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US / tɔ:k /

UK / tɔk /

A1
  • noun
  • Style of speaking
  • Discussion between two countries
  • Giving information in front of people; lecture
  • Saying things or ideas to someone with words
  • verb
  • To make a formal speech about something
  • To say things or ideas to someone with words

line

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US / laɪn /

UK / laɪn /

A1
  • noun
  • Border that divides two places or regions
  • Long crease in the skin, often from age
  • Mark that is long, straight and very thin
  • Row of words, letters or numbers that are written
  • Telephone connection
  • People waiting one behind the other; queue
  • Long thin wire, e.g. for electrical signal
  • verb
  • To put material along the inside of something

just

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US / dʒʌst /

UK / dʒʌst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper or appropriate; as is deserved
  • Doing or being what is right or fair
  • Legally correct; having enough evidence
  • adverb
  • Almost; nearly
  • Exactly at the time of
  • Exactly (the same as, like)

chinese

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US / /

UK / /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of China

question

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US / 'kwestʃən /

UK / ˈkwɛstʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Issue or problems you are dealing with
  • What you ask about; issue
  • verb
  • To ask for or try to get information
  • To have or express concerns or uncertainty

situation

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US / ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃn /

UK / ˌsɪtʃuˈeʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Place, position or area that something is in
  • Circumstance or condition surrounding an event
  • An unexpected problem or difficulty

generate

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US / ˈdʒenəreɪt /

UK / ˈdʒɛnəˌret /

A2
  • verb
  • To create or be produced or bring into existence
  • To create electricity, heat, energy and power

yourself

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US / jɔ:ˈself /

UK / jʊrˈsɛlf, jɔr-, jor-, jə- /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Reflexive form of 'you', used for an emphasis

well

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US / wel /

UK / wɛl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being in a fortunate, good condition or state
  • Healthy and in good condition
  • adverb
  • In an acceptable, proper, or successful manner
  • In a complete, total, or full manner
  • A great and considerable degree
  • In a successful way, in a good or satisfactory way
  • exclamation
  • Used to begin or continue a particular statement
  • Used to show you want to start saying something
  • Used to express that you are waiting for a reply
  • You say this to change the topic of a conversation
  • Used to indicate you are making a final remark
  • noun
  • Long deep hole in the ground to get water
  • verb
  • To cause your eyes to fill with tears

start

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US / stɑ:t /

UK / stɑrt /

A1
  • noun
  • First time or place that a thing exists; beginning
  • First opportunity to achieve something, e.g. a job
  • Sudden action or movement because you are scared
  • other
  • Beginning of something in place or time
  • verb
  • To do, be or happen for the first time; begin
  • To turn something on

mutter

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US / 'mʌtə(r) /

UK / ˈmʌtɚ /

B1
  • other
  • To say quietly/indistinctly, as when complaining
  • verb
  • To speak in a way that is not very clear or loud

never

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US / 'nevə(r) /

UK / ˈnɛvɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Not ever; not at any time

french

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US / frentʃ /

UK / frentʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of France
  • noun
  • Person's name

much

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US / mʌtʃ /

UK / mʌtʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Very; to a high level or degree
  • adverb
  • A lot; large amount; a high degree of
  • Nearly; basically
  • On many occasions; often
  • noun
  • A large amount; a great quantity

laugh

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US / lɑ:f /

UK / læf, lɑf /

A1
  • noun
  • Happy noise you make when something is funny
  • verb
  • To make a happy sound when something is funny

fact

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US / fækt /

UK / fækt /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that is known or proved to be true

medium

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US / 'mi:dɪəm /

UK / ˈmidiəm /

A2
  • noun
  • Method of expressing ideas or feelings
  • Something available in a middle size or condition
  • Person who claims to communicate with the dead

hard

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US / hɑ:d /

UK / hɑː(r)d /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Difficult to do; difficult to understand
  • (Of facts) not able to be misunderstood; clear
  • (Of alcohol) strong
  • Involving or requiring lots of work, effort, care
  • Being full of pain, trouble, and problems
  • Strong
  • (Of edge) clear; sharp
  • Difficult to bend, break or cut; solid
  • adverb
  • With lots of force, power, or impact

get

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US / ɡet /

UK / ɡɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To become affected by illness or disease
  • To begin to feel or understand an emotion or idea
  • To send or bring someone or something home, etc.
  • To go somewhere to obtain something
  • To (cause to) do a particular thing
  • To obtain, receive or be given something
  • To currently have
  • To prepare for use
  • To understand something being said or read

difficulty

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US / ˈdɪfɪkəlti /

UK / ˈdɪfɪˌkʌlti, -kəl- /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that is hard to do

first

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US / fɜ:st /

UK / fɚst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • 1st; Coming before all others in time or place
  • noun
  • Something that has not happened before
  • Position of the winner of a competition

bother

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US / 'bɒðə(r) /

UK / ˈbɑðɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Problems, concern or worry for someone
  • A disturbance; trouble
  • verb
  • To cause problems, concerns or worry for someone
  • To take the trouble to do something

annoying

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US / əˈnɔɪɪŋ /

UK / əˈnɔɪɪŋ /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • A little angry; upset
  • verb
  • To make someone angry

usefulness

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US / ˈjuːsflnəs /

UK / ˈjuːsflnəs /

A2
  • noun
  • State of being needed or having a purpose

remind

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US / rɪ'maɪnd /

UK / rɪˈmaɪnd /

A2
  • verb
  • To cause someone to remember what they forgot

that

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US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

sit

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US / sɪt /

UK / sɪt /

A1
  • verb
  • To take an exam
  • To be in a resting position on a chair
  • To provide seating for people
  • To remain in a still position while being painted

people

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US / 'pi:pl /

UK / ˈpipəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Persons sharing culture, country, background, etc.
  • Men, Women, Children

like

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US / laɪk /

UK / laɪk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in status or kind to something else
  • Similar; the same
  • adverb
  • For example
  • preposition
  • Used as a filler; used to ad emphasis
  • In a way similar to the way something is done
  • Such as; for example
  • verb
  • To want to
  • To find something pleasing; to prefer something

eventually

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US / ɪˈventʃuəli /

UK / ɪˈvɛntʃuəli /

A2
  • adverb
  • After a long time; after many attempts; in the end

even

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US / 'i:vn /

UK / ˈivən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in influence, power, possibility etc.
  • Being divided equally or fairly
  • (Of teams/contest) with similar chances of success
  • Smooth, level, or regular
  • Can be divided by 2; ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0
  • At a regular, equally steady manner
  • Remaining steady and unchanging
  • adverb
  • (When this is surprising) as well; too
  • (Used to compare two things/stress the difference)
  • verb
  • To make something level; to flatten
  • To make something equal

about

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US / ə'baʊt /

UK / əˈbaʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • To be ready to; going to
  • Nearly; approximately; roughly
  • Near; next to; close to
  • In every direction; in the area of
  • preposition
  • Concerning or of (a topic)

yeah

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US / jeə /

UK / ˈjɛə, ˈjæə, jɛ- /

A1
  • exclamation
  • Another way of saying 'yes'

parable

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US / ˈpærəbl /

UK / ˈpærəbəl /

C1
  • noun
  • Short story, usually with a moral lesson

language

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US / ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ /

UK / ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ /

A1
  • noun
  • Words or signs used to communicate messages

city

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US / 'sɪtɪ /

UK / ˈsɪti /

A1
  • noun
  • Area with many buildings, roads and people

she

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US / ʃɪ /

UK / ʃi /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Female person or animal mentioned before
  • (Refers to female person mentioned before)

waiter

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US / ˈweɪtə(r) /

UK / ˈwetɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Man who serves food or drinks in a restaurant

hardly

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US / ˈhɑ:dli /

UK / ˈhɑ:rdli /

A2
  • adverb
  • Clearly or undoubtedly not; very little
  • Almost not; scarcely

fun

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US / fʌn /

UK / fʌn /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Amusing and enjoyable
  • noun
  • Enjoyable or amusing quality or feeling

tell

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US / tel /

UK / tɛl /

A1
  • verb
  • To (strongly) advise a person to do something
  • To be able to guess
  • To say or communicate information to someone
  • To inform, but without speaking; indicate
  • To have a negative effect on someone
  • To order someone to do something; command
  • To recognize something based on certain signs
  • To report something to an authority
  • To explain something or teach someone something

smile

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US / smaɪl /

UK / smaɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Raising the corners of the mouth showing happiness
  • verb
  • To put up the corners of mouth to show happiness

interesting

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US / ˈɪntrəstɪŋ /

UK / ˈɪntrɪstɪŋ, -tərɪstɪŋ, -təˌrɛstɪŋ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Taking your attention; making you want to know
  • verb
  • To make someone want to know about something
  • To persuade to do, become involved with something

then

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US / ðen /

UK / ðɛn /

A1
  • adverb
  • A time that is not now
  • Following another thing in time or arrangement
  • Following on reasonably from what was just stated
  • At that time, not now

humor

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US / 'hju:mə /

UK / ˈhjumɚ /

B1
  • noun
  • Quality that makes something funny
  • Mood that a person is in
  • other
  • To pretend to agree with so they don't get upset
  • verb
  • To pretend to agree with so they don't get upset
  • To agree with someone but don't really mean it

reply

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US / rɪˈplaɪ /

UK / rɪˈplaɪ /

A1
  • noun
  • Answer to someone's question
  • A response in speech, writing or action
  • verb
  • To respond by speech, writing or action
  • To give a response in speech, writing or action

enough

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US / ɪˈnʌf /

UK / ɪˈnʌf /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Sufficient to answer the need
  • adverb
  • To a satisfactory degree
  • pronoun
  • Equal to what is needed; as much as required
  • Adequate number or amount

lovely

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US / ˈlʌvli /

UK / ˈlʌvli /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Attractive or beautiful

jealous

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US / ˈdʒeləs /

UK / ˈdʒɛləs /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Wishing you were like someone or had their things

hear

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US / hɪə(r) /

UK / hɪr /

A1
  • verb
  • To be aware of sound; to perceive with the ear
  • To be told or find out information or facts
  • To consider or listen to a court case

review

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US / rɪˈvju: /

UK / rɪˈvju /

A2
  • noun
  • Examination of soldiers and supplies
  • Opinion, as in a paper, about movie, book, or play
  • Studying again to remind yourself about something
  • verb
  • To carefully look at the quality of something
  • To formally examine something in the military
  • To write an opinion about movie, book, or play
  • To study again to remind yourself about something

mind

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US / maɪnd /

UK / maɪnd /

A1
  • noun
  • One's opinion or way of thinking about something
  • Part of humans that allows us to think or feel
  • verb
  • To be bothered or upset by something
  • To take care of someone e.g. as a bodyguard

bear

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US / bɛː /

UK / bɛr /

A2
  • noun
  • Large brown animal with fur that lives in forests
  • Someone who expects stock market to fall
  • verb
  • To accept (responsibilities or duties)
  • To give birth to a child; to produce fruit
  • To accept or suffer the weight of difficulties
  • To keep moving left or right while going forward
  • To show (sign of something)
  • To support the weight of something, e.g. a bridge

remember

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US / rɪ'membə(r) /

UK / rɪˈmɛmbɚ /

A1
  • verb
  • To give someone a gift, e.g. birthday, wedding
  • To hold a thought in your mind to not forget it
  • To bring a previous image or idea to your mind

end

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US / end /

UK / ɛnd /

A1
  • noun
  • The point where a process or activity stops
  • A point that marks the limit of something; finish
  • Goal or desired result
  • The tip, edge or limit of something
  • verb
  • To be the last part of something

tokyo

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US / 'təʊkjəʊ /

UK / 'tokjo /

A1
  • proper noun
  • The capital of Japan, located on the northwestern shores of Tokyo Bay, on the southeastern part of t

often

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US / ˈɔfən /

UK / ˈɔfən,ˈɑfən,ˈɔftən,ˈɑf- /

A1
  • adverb
  • Many times; frequently; on many occasions

moment

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US / 'məʊmənt /

UK / 'moʊmənt /

A1
  • noun
  • Very short or brief period of time
  • A particular period in time

know

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US / nəʊ /

UK / noʊ /

A1
  • verb
  • To be familiar with a person or place, thing
  • To feel sure or be convinced about something
  • To discover or be aware of something
  • To be able to distinguish
  • To have knowledge of things

part

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US / pɑ:t /

UK / pɑ:rt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To some degree; half; not fully
  • noun
  • Division of a book
  • Ratio of something, e.g. 3 of gin, 1 of tonic
  • A line in a person's hair, made with a comb
  • Character an actor plays on stage, movie, or TV
  • Some, but not all of a specific thing
  • Role in causing something to happen
  • verb
  • To make a line in a person's hair, by using a comb
  • To move two things apart creating a space
  • To leave someone, or to break off a relationship

have

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US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

hundred

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US / 'hʌndrəd /

UK / ˈhʌndrɪd /

A1
  • number
  • 100

dark

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US / dɑ:k /

UK / dɑrk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Of a color that is not light
  • Marked by unhappiness or hopelessness
  • Having little or no light; not light in color
  • noun
  • The time of day when the sky is black

with

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US / wɪð /

UK / wɪð, wɪθ /

A1
  • preposition
  • As an employee of a certain company
  • Against something or someone
  • By using something as a means
  • Due to; because of
  • Including
  • Possessing as a feature
  • Related to
  • (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
  • Used to express that people or things are together

social

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US / ˈsəuʃəl /

UK / ˈsoʃəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Involving activity with people, e.g. in free time
  • Liking being with other people; friendly
  • Living together and depending on each other

process

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US / prə'ses /

UK / ˈprɑsˌɛs, ˈproˌsɛs /

A2
  • noun
  • Dealing with official forms in the way required
  • Set of changes that occur slowly and naturally
  • verb
  • To organize and use data in a computer
  • To deal with official forms in the way required
  • To prepare by treating something in a certain way
  • To adopt a set of actions that produce a result
  • To convert by putting something through a machine

his

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US / hɪz /

UK / hɪz /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Something belonging to a male person

exposure

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US / ɪk'spəʊʒə(r) /

UK / ɪkˈspoʒɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Allowing light through a cameras lens onto film
  • Being talked about in the media
  • Act of making something that is secret known
  • Experience of something directly

whether

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US / ˈweðə(r) /

UK / ˈhwɛðɚ, ˈwɛð- /

A1
  • conjunction
  • If something will happen or not

bueno

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US / ˈbweɪnoʊ /

UK / /

A1

give

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US / ɡɪv /

UK / ɡɪv /

A1
  • noun
  • Degree of flexibility in something, a material
  • verb
  • To hand over or present something to someone
  • To cause someone to have or experience something

good

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US / ɡʊd /

UK / ɡʊd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper, appropriate or right
  • (Of an amount) enough; plenty
  • Excellent; high quality
  • Acting well or properly; of moral character
  • In a positive or happy emotional state
  • noun
  • Advantage or benefit

english

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US / ˈɪŋglɪʃ /

UK / ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of England
  • noun
  • Language of the UK, USA, Nigeria and elsewhere
  • Person's name

but

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US / bət /

UK / bʌt,bət /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used before you say something different, opposite

reject

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US / rɪˈdʒekt /

UK / rɪˈdʒɛkt /

A2
  • noun
  • Goods that are not suitable for sale at full price
  • Person others do not like, or refuse to accept
  • verb
  • To decide that something is not good enough
  • To refuse, deny to believe, accept, or consider

moral

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US / ˈmɒrəl /

UK / ˈmɔrəl, ˈmɑr- /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • In a way considered proper and good by most people
  • noun
  • In a way considered proper and good by most people
  • Lesson learned from a story or experience

deliver

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US / dɪ'lɪvə(r) /

UK / dɪˈlɪvɚ /

A2
  • verb
  • To give birth to a child; help a woman give birth
  • To save someone from a problem or crisis
  • To keep a promise; do what you say you would
  • To present something to a group, as a speech
  • To take something to a person or place

content

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US / 'kɒntent /

UK / ˈkɑnˌtɛnt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being happy or satisfied
  • noun
  • Information in something, e.g. book or computer

can

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US / kæn /

UK / kən,kæn /

A1
  • noun
  • A metal container for storing food
  • other
  • Able to; have the skill to; have the time to
  • verb
  • To have permission to
  • To be possible to do
  • To preserve food by sealing it in a metal container

worthwhile

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US / ˌwɜ:θˈwaɪl /

UK / ˌwɜ:rθˈwaɪl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Worth the money, time or effort of doing something

want

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US / wɔnt /

UK / wɑnt, wɔnt /

A1
  • noun
  • Something you desire or wish for
  • State or condition of poverty
  • verb
  • To desire or wish for something; hope for a thing

online

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US / ˌɒnˈlaɪn /

UK / ˌɑ:nˈlaɪn /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Connected to the internet

book

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US / bʊk /

UK / bʊk /

A1
  • noun
  • Thing made of pages with writing on that you read
  • verb
  • (Police) to officially record someone's crimes
  • To reserve (hotel room, etc.) in advance
  • To produce a red or yellow card to a soccer player

whole

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US / həul /

UK / hol /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Complete or full; all of
  • Being in a good condition
  • noun
  • Complete amount or sum; total

quite

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US / kwaɪt /

UK / kwaɪt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Not very; fairly
  • Very; In a complete or total manner

our

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US / 'aʊə(r) /

UK / aʊr /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to us

maybe

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US / ˈmeɪbi /

UK / ˈmebi /

A1
  • adverb
  • Possibly but not certainly; perhaps

not

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US / nɒt /

UK / nɑt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Word indicating the negative
  • (Used to form the negative of verbs)

mine

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US / maɪn /

UK / maɪn /

A1
  • noun
  • A bomb hidden in the ground or the sea
  • Rich source of material or information
  • Place under the ground where coal, etc. is dug out
  • pronoun
  • That thing that belongs to me
  • verb
  • To place a bomb in the ground or the sea
  • To dig into the earth or sea to obtain minerals

really

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US / ˈri:əli /

UK / ˈriəˌli, ˈrili /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to stress something that is said; definitely
  • In a true or accurate manner
  • Very

undeterred

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US / ˌʌndɪˈtɜ:d /

UK / ˌʌndɪˈtɜ:rd /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Not deterred; not put off from doing something

now

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US / naʊ /

UK / naʊ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At the present time or moment
  • Right away or in the next possible moment
  • Used to refer to something that just happened
  • Time between the present and a moment in the past
  • conjunction
  • Resulting from or because of something

friend

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US / frend /

UK / frɛnd /

A1
  • noun
  • Person who you like and enjoy being with

listen

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US / ˈlɪsn /

UK / ˈlɪsən /

A1
  • verb
  • To carefully consider what someone is saying

himself

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US / hɪmˈself /

UK / hɪmˈsɛlf /

A1
  • pronoun
  • The same (male) person who did the action

unfriendly

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US / ʌnˈfrendli /

UK / ʌnˈfrɛndli /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Not being nice or friendly; rude

should

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US / ʃʊd /

UK / ʃʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Used to indicate what is proper or reasonable

sort

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US / sɔ:t /

UK / sɔrt /

A1
  • noun
  • Group or class of similar things or people
  • verb
  • To organize things by putting them into groups
  • To deal with things in an organized way

enthusiastic

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US / ɪnˌθju:ziˈæstɪk /

UK / ɛnˌθuziˈæstɪk /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Excited and interested in something

afraid

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US / əˈfreɪd /

UK / əˈfred /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Worried that something bad will happen; scared

taoist

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US / 'taʊɪst /

UK / 'taʊɪst /

A1
  • other
  • An adherent of any branch of Taoism
  • Of or relating to the philosophical system developed by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu advocating a simple h
  • Of or relating to the popular Chinese religious system based on the teachings of Lao-tzu but includi

probably

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US / ˈprɒbəbli /

UK / ˈprɑbəbli /

A1
  • adverb
  • That is likely to happen or be true

obviously

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US / ˈɒbviəsli /

UK / ˈɑːbviəsli /

A2
  • adverb
  • In a way that is obvious/easy to see or understand

million

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US / ˈmɪljən /

UK / ˈmɪljən /

A1
  • number
  • 1,000,000

imagine

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US / ɪ'mædʒɪn /

UK / ɪˈmædʒɪn /

A1
  • verb
  • To think creatively about; form mental picture of

true

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US / tru: /

UK / tru: /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Agreeing with the facts; not false; real or actual

story

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US / 'stɔ:rɪ /

UK / ˈstɔri, ˈstori /

A1
  • noun
  • One of many floors or levels in a building
  • Account or description of how something happened

will

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US / wɪl /

UK / wɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Desire or choice of someone
  • Document saying who gets your money when you die
  • Strong desire to do something; determination
  • Desire to do something; strong wish to do
  • other
  • Used with verbs to express the future
  • verb
  • To leave property to someone after your death
  • To use mental effort to make something happen
  • Am (is, are) likely to do
  • To influence someone to do something
  • To make something happen by strongly wanting it

thousand

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US / ˈθaʊznd /

UK / ˈθaʊzənd /

A1
  • number
  • Number 1,000

many

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US / 'menɪ /

UK / ˈmɛni /

A1
  • determiner
  • Used to refer a large number of things

after

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US / 'ɑ:ftə(r) /

UK / ˈæftɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Later than another time, or behind something
  • conjunction
  • Following something before
  • preposition
  • When an event happened or time has passed

try

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US / traɪ /

UK / traɪ /

A1
  • noun
  • Act of putting the ball over the rugby goal line
  • verb
  • To make an effort, to attempt to do something
  • To examine someone or something in a court of law
  • To test to see if it is good or you like it
  • To make a person go through hardship; test
  • To examine something to see if it works

here

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US / hɪə(r) /

UK / hɪr /

A1
  • adverb
  • In this place; at this location, position or time

available

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US / əˈveɪləbl /

UK / əˈveləbəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Present and able to be used
  • Able to be used at a scheduled time

write

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US / raɪt /

UK / raɪt /

A1
  • verb
  • To compose letters and words on paper or a screen
  • To invent or create a computer program
  • To create a song or piece of music

use

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US / ju:s /

UK / ju:s /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to employ something
  • Need to enable it to work
  • Permission to do something with something
  • Act of spending money
  • Operation of a machine for its function
  • verb
  • To have; to eat, drink, consume etc.
  • To need to operate or work
  • To operate a machine, e.g. a computer
  • To treat a person badly
  • To do something with, for a task or purpose

realize

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US / 'ri:əlaɪz /

UK / ˈriəˌlaɪz /

A1
  • verb
  • To become aware of or understand mentally

speak

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US / spi:k /

UK / spik /

A1
  • verb
  • To be able to use a certain language
  • To use words to tell information, express thoughts

whip

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US / wɪp /

UK / hwɪp, wɪp /

B1
  • noun
  • A long rope used to hit people or animals
  • verb
  • To defeat thoroughly or easily
  • To beat with a type of long rope
  • To beat cream, eggs etc. so it gets more volume
  • To take away something quickly

sure

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US / ʃʊə(r) /

UK / ʃʊr /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Having no doubts about something
  • Have confidence in your own words or actions
  • Firmly established or held; being firm or stable
  • Being correct or true
  • adverb
  • What you say to agree willingly

point

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US / pɔɪnt /

UK / pɔɪnt /

A1
  • noun
  • An item to be discussed
  • Small spot or dot
  • Fact or detail
  • Feature of something
  • The size of the text on a page or screen
  • A certain time or stage in a process
  • Certain position in time or space
  • Idea or fact you try to convince people about
  • Measurement of scores in a game, sport
  • Sharp end of something, e.g. a pen or pin
  • verb
  • To face a certain direction, e.g. north
  • To indicate something with your finger to others
  • Subtitles section
  • know it isn't worth it.
  • You're probably not going to succeed.
  • So don't even bother trying.
  • So I'm this guy who has over a million followers here at YouTube.
  • And I talk about the joys of language learning and how we can all learn and all this stuff.
  • But I have to confess that there are moments when I have my doubts.
  • Is it really worthwhile learning languages?
  • Can it be fun?
  • And I'm reminded of a story told to me by a friend of mine who was traveling.
  • He was in a, I can't remember whether it was Paris or Tokyo or Istanbul or Buenos Aires, but some
  • city where they spoke a language other than English.
  • And so he was, uh, at this cafe, he had his, uh, you know, he's going to review his social media or whatever.
  • And he sits beside this attractive, uh, you know, girl and he starts staring at her.
  • And then he kind of says to her in English, she says, you have a lovely smile, which he thought was a really good sort of, uh, pickup line, you know?
  • And she looks at him in a very unfriendly way and mutters something in the local language.
  • So undeterred, he sort of whips out his iPhone and he speaks into his iPhone in English.
  • And the iPhone then speaks in the local language, also saying, you have a lovely smile.
  • At that point, the girl calls the waiter over and she's pointing in at the, at him and, and, you know, uh, obviously very unhappy.
  • And she has moved to another part of the cafe.
  • So the moral of the story is to me, like, why bother?
  • Why bother learning a language?
  • You know, he went to the trouble of, you know, using his iPhone to generate his pickup line there in, in the local language and he was still rejected.
  • So yeah, I question therefore, why bother?
  • Because learning a language, you know, has to be hard work.
  • There is an expression, no pain, no gain.
  • And that's certainly true in language learning.
  • If you don't subject yourself to drills, to quizzes on things that you have hardly had a chance to get used to in the language, like the subjunctive in French or something.
  • If you don't go to a class and sit there and, uh, maybe you have to read in front of other people.
  • And if you read well, then people are jealous and don't like you.
  • And if you read badly, they are, they laugh at you or they, it's annoying to have to listen to you.
  • So it's just not a good situation, but you have to do that.
  • You got to review, you know, stacks and stacks of flashcards.
  • And of course you keep forgetting them and, and it's just a lot of pain.
  • The whole process is quite painful, you know, and at the end of all this effort, are we going to just be rejected the way my friend was rejected?
  • I even hear of people who learn a language and go to the country where the language is spoken.
  • And they trot out whatever they're able to do in the language.
  • And then people reply in English after all that effort to learn the language.
  • Like, why should I even bother if you're not going to humor me when I try to use the language that I'm learning?
  • Uh, now there are people who say the opposite.
  • There are people who say that in fact, learning can be fun, that the brain will get used to the language.
  • The brain is designed to do that.
  • Eventually with enough exposure, we're going to be able to start using, even with some difficulty, as long as we are not afraid that gradually we will improve.
  • You know, I often mentioned the fact that never has there been so much interesting content available to us in just about any language.
  • And never have there been so many people online helping us in the early stages of our learning of any given language.
  • So the conditions have never been better.
  • I hear this message and I personally have delivered this message here, uh, to encourage people, but is that realistic?
  • So today I'm having one of my darker moments and I'm saying, no, it isn't worth it.
  • You're probably not going to succeed.
  • So don't even bother trying.
  • A lot of people pay lip service to the idea that they want to learn another language.
  • My advice is don't bother.
  • In the book that I wrote in two thousand three.
  • about language learning, I mentioned the parable of the butterfly by Zhuangzi, Chinese Taoist philosopher of two thousand five hundred years ago, where he imagined himself a butterfly.
  • And then when he awoke and he realized that he wasn't a butterfly, he was Zhuangzi.
  • Then he says, I don't know now whether...
  • In fact, I'm a butterfly that now thinks he's Zhuangzi or was I a Zhuangzi who imagined himself a butterfly?
  • So using the parable of Zhuangzi and having exposed to you some of my dark thoughts about language learning, I'm not sure now whether the Steve that questions the usefulness of language learning is the real Steve or whether I was just pretending to be that and in fact
  • The Steve, the enthusiastic Steve is the real Steve.
  • I leave it up to you to figure that out, but do try to bear in mind the fact that it is the first of April.